Soda-fountain.



NO. 765,374. PATENTED JULY 19, 1904. P. BLETZINGBR.

SODA FOUNTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21. 1903 NO MODEL. 2 sums-sum 1.

PATENTBD JULY 19, 1904.

I. BLETZINGER.

SODA FOUNTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1903.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

LII

' UNITED STATES Patented July 19, 1904.

FREDERICK BLETZINGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SODA-FOUNTAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,374, dated July 19,1904.

Application filed January 21, 1903. Serial No. 139,966. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK BLETZINGER, a resident of Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Soda-Fountains, of which the following isaspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in soda-fountains, and refersmore specifically to an improved fountain in which theextractreceptacles are in the form of jars largely exposed and somounted within or upon the fountain as to be capable of tilting for thepurpose of pouring out the contents.

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a constructionin which the extract-receptacles are largely exposed to view and arebrought into full View each time they are used, thereby not onlyenhancing the appearance of the fountain, but insuring proper care andattention in the matter of cleanli ness; to provide a construction inwhich the extract-receptacles may be reliably secured in a tiltingframe, so that they are not liable to become disengaged and broken, butat the same time are made capable of being incidentally detached andremoved with the utmost convenience; to provide a construction in which,notwithstanding the jars or extractreceptacles are movable in the mannerdescribed, yet their lower ends are nevertheless inclosed within arefrigerating-chamber at all times except when tilted into pouringposition; to provide a construction of the character last referred to inwhich the refrigeratingchamber remains substantially closed during thetilting movement of the extract-receptacles, and, in general, to providea simple, efficient, and ornamental construction in sodafountains.

To the above ends the invention consists'in the matters hereinafterdescribed and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, andthe invention will be more readily understood from the followingdescription by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a partthereof, and in which Figure l is a perspective view of the principalportions of a soda-fountain embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail,partly in transverse vertical section and partly in side elevation, ofthe parts concerned in the present invention. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of a plurality of the extract-jars, the stationarysupporting-frame upon which the jars rest being shown in longitudinalvertical section. Fig. 4c is a horizontal sectional view taken throughone of the jars on the line 4 10f Fig. 3 and looking downwardly. Fig. 5is a fragmentary front elevation of the lower end portion of one of thejars with the supportingframe removed.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates as a whole the main frame of thefountain structure, of which,it will be understood,only those partswhich are concerned in the support of the extract-receptacles are shown,these parts comprising the front wall 2, back wall 3, and a horizontalpartition 4:. The front wall terminates at its upper end in acounter-like ledge member 5,. which in the preferred construction shownherein is coincident in height with the horizontal partition 4, withinwhich the extract-receptacles (designated 6) are seated and supported.

In the approved form shown each receptacle is a jar, preferablytransparent, approximately rectangular in cross-section, of greaterdepth from front to rear than its width, and

of substantially uniform size throughout its height, this form, as willhereinafter appear, being economical of space and more convenientlyhandled than would be a cylindric or equilateral jar. Each jar isprovided with a cover 7 hinged to the jar at its rear side, as indicatedat 8, and provided also with a handle 7, whereby the jar may be readilytilted. Each jar is also provided at its front side, at the upper endthereof, with a spout extension 9, desirably extending across theprincipal width of the jar and provided with a lateral opening, asindicated at 10, which is controlled by'a depending flap or gate 11. Thegate 11 is hinged to the front edge of a plate-like extension 12, whichis formed integrally with a metal rim 13, which encircles the upper edgeof the jar and forms the support for the hinge 8, the plate-likeextension 12 forming a permanent closure for the upper side of the spoutextension 9, which said upper side is made flush with the lower edge ofthe rim 13. The several gates 11 form a convenient and ornamentalsupport for the labels designating the contents of the severalreceptacles, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, and in order that the gates maybe manipulated conveniently they each terminate at their lower ends in asuitable handle 14:.

Describing now the means whereby the receptacles are tiltably supportedin the fountain structure, 15 designates a supporting-bar mounted uponthe inner edge of the ledge 5, and 16 designates a secondtransversely-extending supporting-bar arranged parallel with the frontbar 15 and at a point some distance in rear of the rear sides of thereceptacles 6, the supporting-bar 16 being secured at its ends to theend walls of the fountain structure. At distances apart equal tothe facewidth of the receptacles 6 are arranged a plurality of cross-bars 17, asbest shown in Fig. 3, which bars are desirably of approximately T shapein cross-section, so as to afford sufficient rigidity and providelateral flanges 18, which engage the proximate sides of the receptaclesand confine the latter against sidewise movement.

Each receptacle 6 is mounted within and has attached to its lower end abasket-like frame (designated as a whole 19) comprising acircumferential band 20, located at a level coincident with thesupporting-bars 15 and 16, a second circumferential band 21, locatednear the lower end of the receptacle, and a stirruplike strap 22, unitedat its upper ends with the band 20 and extending thence downwardly andaround the bottom of the receptacle, as seen clearly in Figs. 2 and 3.The receptacle is slightly enlarged, so as to provide a circumferentialshoulder 6 immediately above the band 20. Upon the band 20 at pointsapproximately coincident with the front side of the receptacle and ateach side thereof is secured a pivot-ear 23, provided with a lateralproerable distance beyond the plane occupied by the rear side of thereceptacle when in upright position. The supporting-bar 16 isaccordinglylocated far enough in rear of the receptacles to be out ofthe path of the latter when thus tilted, and in order to cover the spacebetween the rear sides of the receptacles and said supporting-barextension-plates 26 are secured to the receptacles, said plates being inthe present instance shown as formed integrally with the supporting-band20 of the several receptacles. V

It will be understood that the lower part of the fountain, within whichthe lower ends of the extract-receptacles depend, constitutes arefrigerator chamber, and the extensionplates 26 serve to keep thischamber normally closed. For the same reason the front side of the band20 is provided with a lip-like extension 27, which normally underliesthe supporting-bar 15, as indicated clearly in Fig. 2, and closes therefrigerating-chamber at this point.

28 designates a removable closure, which closes a filling-apertureformed in the partition 1 at a point in rear of the supporting-bar 16,through which aperture ice may be charged from time to time, and inorder to prevent the ice from filling in around the bottoms of theextract-receptacles, so as to prevent the free movement of the latter, acurved depending partition or guard 29 is provided, which is arranged toextend from the supporting-bar 16 downwardly to a point adjacent to thelower ends of the receptacles.

It is at times necessary to removethe receptacles from the fountain, andmeans are provided for disconnecting-it from its basket-like frame, sothat the latter need not be disconnected from its supports. Furthermore,it is necessary that the basket-like frame 19 be so secured to thereceptacle that the latter may be tilted into horizontal positionwithout danger of becoming dislodged therefrom. Ac-

cordingly the receptacle is provided at points in register with thelower band 21 of the frame 19 at its front and rear sides with grooves30 and 30, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) suitably shaped to receive or in partreceive said band 21, and the latter, as best shown in Fig. 2, isprovided at its rear side with a set-screw 31, threaded through the bandand arranged to engage the groove at the rear side of the receptacle andat the same time throw the band rearwardly, so as to cause its frontside to reliably engage the groove. The receptacle being of uniform sizethroughout its portion which extends within the basket or frame maytherefore be freely lifted out of the latter when the set-screw isretracted and the encircling band 20 shifted forward sufficiently todisengage it from the front groove, it being noted that, as clearlyshown in Fig. 1, the internal width of the band 20 from front to rear isslightly greater than the outside diameter of the receptacle.

In order that the several receptacles may be arrested and held invertical position, each is adapted to engage at its lower end with astop or bufl er 32, mounted in the front wall 2, as shown clearly inFig. 2. In the preferred construction shown herein said buffers consistof plungers 33, slidingly seated in a suitable socket 34 and normallyheld projected by means of coiled expansion-springs 35, the inner headedend of each plunger being adapted to engage the front side of the band21 of the corresponding receptacles.

The operation of the apparatus is entirely obvious from the foregoingdescription and need not therefore be described in detail. It issufiicient to say that the operator desiring to draw extract from anyone of the receptacles first lifts up the gate 11, so as to open thespout, and then takes hold of the knob 7 and tilts the receptacleforwardly until the required extract has been poured out. As the jar istilted forwardly the extension-plate 26 is carried upwardly, thusmomentarily opening the space immediately in rear of the jar; butinasmuch as the bottom of the jar swings into this space the loss ofcold air is inconsiderable. is thus tilted it will be almost entirelyexposed to View, and it follows that the fountain must of necessity bekept clean and free from sediment. Upon the return of the jar to itsupright position the cushioning-buffers prevent danger of breaking thejar and arrest the latter when it has reached a perpendicular position.The disconnection of the jar and its removal when it is necessary toclean the same has been described and need not be repeated.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention, yet it will be understood that the details of constructionmay be modified without departing from the invention. I do not thereforelimit myself to the details of construction shown and described exceptto the extent that they are made the subject of specific claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a soda-fountain, the combination of afountain structure having a front wall provided at its upper edge with aseries of extract-receptacle supports a cooling-chamber in rear ofsaidfront wall, a recess immediately in rear of said receptacle-supportsand extending into said cooling-chamber, and a series of partly exposedextract receptacles tiltably and removably mounted upon said supports tooscillate within said recess upon transversely-extending axes locatedapproximately at the front sides of the receptacles and intermediate theheights of the latter, whereby said receptacles are brought into afully-exposed horizontal position above said struc ture when tilted,substantially as described.

2. In a soda-fountain apparatus, the combination with a fountainstructure provided with a front wall, and a series of.extract-receptacle supports arranged at the upper edge of said frontwall, a recess constituting a part of a cooling-chamber and locatedimmediately in rear of the upper portion of said front wall, and aseries of extract-receptacles tiltably and removably mounted upon saidreceptacle-supports upon transversely-extend- It will be obvious thatwhen the jar ing axes located intermediate the heights of thereceptacles whereby'the lower ends of the latter will extend within saidcooling-chamher when in upright position, and swing upwardly throughsaid recess into fully-exposed view above said structure when the upperends thereof are tilted forwardly-for drawing extract, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a soda-fountain apparatus, the combination with a fountainstructure having a front wall forming the front side of thecooling-chamber, a series of pivot-supports arranged at the upper edgeof said front wall, a series of extract rece ptacles pivotallyconnectedwith said pivot-supports upon axes,

arranged intermediate the heights of the receptacles and at the frontsides thereof, the

portions of said receptacles located above said pivot-supports beingfreely exposed and their lower ends arranged to extend within saidcooling-chamber, and means normally closing the upper side of thecooling-chamber contiguous to the rear sides of the receptacles, openingautomatically upon the tilting of the receptacles. substantially asdescribed.

4. In a soda-fountain, the combination of a fountain structure,thebase'of which is pro-' rear and whose pivotal axes are locatedatpoints intermediate the heights of the receptacles and movableclosures connected with and moving with said several receptacles, saidclosures serving to normally close the tilting space occupied by thereceptacle when tilted, substantially as described.

5. In asoda-fountain, the combination'with a refrigerating-chamber andasuitable pivotsupport located adjacent said chamber, of a transparentextract-receptacle mounted'upon said pivot-support to swing upon an axislo- IOCi cated midway of the height of the receptacle and adjacent to orin the front plane of the receptacle, the base of said receptacle beingarranged to extend within said refrigeratingchamber when the receptacleisin its normal position and to swing into fully-exposed position abovesaid chamber when turned upon said pivot-support, for the purpose setforth.

6. In combination, a soda-fountain receptacle provided intermediate itsheight with outstanding circumferentially-extending shoulders, asupporting-ring encircling the body'- of the receptacle and engagingsaid shoulders,

pivot-supports upon said ring, and an adjustable clamp connected withsaid ring, comprising a second band encircling the body of thereceptacle at a point below the support ing-ring, grooves formed in thebody of the receptacle to receive said lower encircling ring, means forholding said clamping-ring in clamping engagement with the body of thereceptacle, and connections connecting the supporting and clampingrings.

7. A soda-fountain receptacle provided at its upper end with alaterally-projecting spout, a rigid plate forming a closure for theupper side of said spout, and a pend ulous flap hinged to said plate andforming a closure for the lateral opening of said spout, substantiallyas described.

8. A soda-fountain receptacle provided at its upper end with alaterally-projecting spout, a rigid plate forming a closure for theupper side of said spout, and a pendulous flap hinged to said plate andforming a closure for the lateral opening of said spout, said flap beingprovided with a label-holding receptacle, substantially as described.

9. In a soda-fountain, a fountain structure proper with a series ofrectangular openings in the top surface thereof, a series ofpivotsupports mounted near the edges of said openings, a series ofextract-receptacles, each provided with a pair of pivot-studsintermediate its ends and adjacent to its front surface, and

a plate like extension at its rear surface, mounted within said openingsand upon said pivot-supports, whereby the greater portion of eachreceptacle projects above the top surface of the fountain structure andis adapted to be tilted into approximately horizontal position abovesaid top surface, and a buffer mounted within said structure at a pointbelow the pivotal supports and adapted to engage the lower end of thereceptacle and hold it in upright position.

10. In combination with a soda-fountain base, having a substantiallyfiat top portion, and a series of extract-receptacles seated to dependat their lower ends through said flat top and pivotally supported uponaxes approximately coincident with the flat top, of a curvedpartition-plate extending downwardly within the base contiguous to, andapproximately coincident with the path of movement of the lower end ofthe receptacle when oscillated upon their pivot-supports, for thepurpose set forth. v

FREDERICK BLETZINGER.

\Vitnesses:

ALBERT H. GRAVES, L. F. MCCREA.

